What’s in Theresa May’s Brexit deal — and the battles that lie ahead

Theresa May made her statement after a tense five-hour cabinet meetingLEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES

In more than 585 pages of dense legal prose the finalised withdrawal agreement sets out the rules, regulations and obligations that Britain will have to abide by for many years after Brexit. Alongside it — and in stark contrast — a seven-page aspirational political declaration sets out a vision for a relationship at an undefined point in the future when the withdrawal agreement is no longer needed.

Some key concessions from both sides that will frame the parliamentary fights ahead are already clear:

THE IRISH BACKSTOPThe withdrawal agreement makes clear that if both sides cannot agree a future relationship that avoids a hard border in Northern Ireland by December 2020 then the UK will either have to extend the transition period or enter into…

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